We are pretty sure that every one of you has once wondered what 60Hz, 75Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz meant! And what is “Hz”?
Now with technological advancement, a wide variety of monitors are available in the market but they have so many different features and technical techs that only those nerd tech geeks know about.
These terms just confuse other people and if you are confused too, then worry not, by the end of this article; you’d know everything about what 60Hz, 75Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz means and why it’s so important to stay informed about them!
While shopping for a monitor you surely will be asked about the refresh rates you are looking for and this is what 60Hz, 75Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz means – it’s the refresh rate of a display!
Don’t panic when you have to choose between what seems like a trillion monitor options. Here we’ll try and explain what a refresh rate is and needs. We also will give you some much-needed clarity and break down the details for you, so stay with us till the very end!
Let’s get into the tech world now! Shall we?
60Hz vs. 75Hz vs. 120Hz vs. 144Hz vs. 240Hz Refresh Rates Explained
First, let’s start with the Refresh Rate of a Monitor-
What is the Refresh Rate of a Monitor?
A monitor’s refresh rate is the number of times it changes itself with new images per second. Hertz is the unit of measurement for the same (Hz).
A refresh rate of 60Hz indicates that the display updates itself 60 times per second. The display updates itself 120 times a second if it has a refresh rate of 120Hz.
A higher refresh rate helps you to display additional frames that would otherwise go missing on a computer with a lower refresh rate. This is one of the most crucial considerations to make when buying a display.
In video games, you might have seen players unexpectedly transporting from one location to another without any connected activity, or frames skipping when playing movies, all these occur due to low refresh rates of monitors and it is pretty annoying.
So it always a great option to go with monitors that promise a higher refresh rate. Let’s see what are the advantages of having a higher refresh rate –
- Since more frames are presented to you, you will be able to see more visual features.
- They have a shorter input delay. As a result, players are able to respond rapidly.
- If you’re into competitive (eSports) games, having a higher refresh rate will give you an advantage over other players. You’ll be able to watch your targets faster and spot your enemies sooner. Competitive gamers favor displays with higher refresh rates for the same reason. They provide them with the ability to see situations accurately and rapidly.
- The moving pictures would be clearer.
- You’ll get a more immersive environment thanks to less motion distortion and less disturbing results.
So now the question arises – What Refresh Rate is right for you? (60Hz vs 75Hz vs 120Hz vs 144Hz vs 240Hz)
A 60Hz monitor would suffice if you mainly use your monitor for playing movies, watching YouTube, and other similar activities. Since most streaming platforms only offer movies with a refresh rate of 60Hz and a frame rate of 24 frames per second, a 60Hz monitor would be a good choice.
When transitioning from a 60Hz monitor to a 75Hz monitor, the experience will be close. Since it is self-evident, the extra 15 frames are not worth the money. However, if you have to pick between a 75Hz and a 60Hz show, go for the 75Hz.
We don’t advocate getting one in the 120Hz category for our readers. It may sound weird to have a 120Hz category, but it’s important that you understand the price differential for an extra 24 hertz; it’s insignificant, and you’ll regret not having a 144Hz at the end of the day.
However, we recognize that not everyone has the financial means to get 144 frames per second out of their games, so a 120Hz solution could be a decent solution to get a more reactive experience in a squeeze. In any case, 120Hz gaming monitors are scarce, and with 144Hz monitors being so inexpensive these days, it would be foolish not to consider one.
Many people who switched from 60Hz to 144Hz and then back to 60Hz saw a significant change. That was due to the fact that most games are nearly unplayable. Finally, we suggest going for the 144Hz because, though it is a little more costly, it will save you money over time.
The higher the refresh rate, the better if you’re a serious PC gamer. Even a low-cost gaming PC in 2020 will help you accomplish 120 frames per second in competitive games like Counter-Strike, Fortnite, and many others.
As a result, most gamers switching from a 60Hz or 75Hz display would find 144Hz to be the tipping point. If you can afford it, nevertheless, choosing 240Hz over 144Hz is still a wise idea.
If you’d like to move from a 144Hz to a 240Hz display, make sure you have the required equipment to allow higher frames per second in gaming.
The gap is apparent, but not as much as switching from 60Hz to 144Hz. This is because at 240Hz, the motions will be more natural, and the human brain will not be able to register them as easily. However, 240Hz screens are only for those who are interested in hardcore competitive gaming, can come up with the money for them, and have the necessary hardware to run games at 240 frames per second.
Input lag and Refresh Rate
The pause between a user-defined movement (such as a button press or a mouse click) and the answer shown on the monitor is known as input lag. Milliseconds are used to calculate input lag (ms).
- The input lag on a 60Hz display is 17 milliseconds.
- The input lag on a 120Hz display is 8ms.
- The input lag on a 144Hz display is 7ms. At 60Hz, it takes almost double the time.
- The input lag on a 240Hz display is 4.16ms.
As one could observe, displays with a higher refresh rate have less input lag.
Despite higher input delays, most regular PC users have little to be concerned about. For professional gaming, where every millisecond matters, lower input lag is essential.
The Relation between refresh rates and Frame Rates
The FPS (Frames per Second) indicates how many frames per second your graphics card will produce in a game. This is largely based on the graphics card, and it differs depending on the game. The display converts the graphics card’s output into a moving image. Just the number of frames created by the graphics card can be seen on the screen.
Many of the screen refreshes would not produce new frames if you have a 144Hz display but your graphics card only outputs 60 FPS for a single game. This means you’re simply wasting money on a computer with display frames that don’t function.
This is why, if you don’t have a decent graphics card, your high refresh rate display won’t be able to achieve its full capacity which is a complete waste of money.
Hence, it’s important to invest in a good graphics card!
Screen Tearing and Variable Refresh Rate (Free Sync and G-Sync)
The screen tearing occurs as your PC configuration delivers a higher frame rate than your monitor’s refresh rate. This is because your computer is being bombarded with more images than it can accommodate. Your monitor then seems to be split.
The most popular method for preventing screen tearing is to allow V-Sync (Vertical Sync) in video game graphics settings. This setting causes your graphics card to draw frames per second at the same rate as your display. If you have a 60Hz monitor, for instance, the V-Sync option forces your graphics card to make 60 frames per second at all times eliminating any kind of screen tearing.
Sluggishness, delay, and repetitive frames occur as a result of the inability to make 60 frames per second at all stages during gameplay. They are more annoying than screen tearing because they occur at the most graphically dramatic moments, such as blasts.
G-Sync and FreeSync enter the equation at this phase. Nvidia and AMD created G-Sync and FreeSync, respectively, which are variable refresh rate technologies. In terms of function, they are very similar.
These claim to remove screen tearing while gaming without causing lags or stutters by allowing the display and graphics card to connect and synchronize their FPS and refresh rate. As a result, one frame is synchronized for each screen refresh.
Freesync monitors work with both AMD and a few Nvidia graphics cards, while G-sync monitors only work with Nvidia graphics cards.
Higher Refresh Rate or Higher Resolution?
This is a decision that you must make based on your requirements. Most displays with higher refresh speeds, such as 240Hz, are 1080p, and only a few are 1440p. And in 2020, there are only a few monitors that will support 4K resolution gaming.
Invest heavily on a higher refresh rate display if you’re a professional competitive player. You’ll lose some color fidelity and picture clarity, but the increased fluidity of motion will give you an advantage in eSports games.
If you’re a regular gamer who still uses your PC for other things like watching movies and doing office work, a higher resolution display is preferable to a higher refresh rate monitor. Because of the increased sharpness, they have improved picture clarity. Due to an overall improvement in the amount of detail, they assist you in having an engaging experience. Thanks to their larger scale, they also improve flexibility in workplace activities.
Higher Refresh Rate or other Hardware Upgrades?
You could use the available funds to purchase a 240Hz or 144Hz display and update your graphics card. Stick with a 144Hz display unless you’re a serious professional player if not, then spend the extra money on a better graphics card.
This will allow you to achieve higher frames per second in other graphically demanding games. Also, choose a better graphics card and 144Hz display over a mediocre graphics card and 240Hz display because you won’t be able to grasp the strength of your 240Hz monitor until you have a graphics card that can render games at 200+ frames per second.
Final words
That was all about monitors, refresh rates, and resolutions.
This brings us to the end of this article!
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